Could 3D printing save the world? That might not be so silly as it sounds, as a collaboration of innovators featuring Polish 3D printer manufacturers Omni3D has just presented a 3D printing solution at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21). Countless specialists and politicians are gathered in Paris until Friday, all with the goal of agreeing on sensible policies to reduce global warming – something that isn’t very easy, with industrial interests and science being politicized. But these 3D printed mini wind turbines could provide the solution, as they are low-cost, easy to transport to the far corners of the world, and renewable sources of energy.

For those attending COP21 in Paris, these 3D printed turbines were on display at booth G28. They have been developed through a collaboration that includes Orange Silicon Valley (the Californian innovation center of telecommunications provider Orange), energy innovators Lumenir, Inc. and Omni3D, a company many of you will know as a Polish 3D printer developer. All three, however, dream of making wind energy sustainable and viable, and have looked to 3D printing to improve the efficiency of machines and combining it will mobile connectivity.

Their most important selling point, when compared to existing wind turbines? They are easy to manufacture and ship to the far corners of the world, where still an estimated 1.1 billion people live without access to electricity. By shipping them there and generating energy where it is needed, it becomes much more efficient and enables locals to stop relying on fossil fuels. Energy-as-a-service company Lumenir, which is part of the United Nations Foundation's Energy Access Practitioner Network, says that reaching those 1 in 5 people living in energy poverty, should be an integral part of the climate change solution. ‘The kind of life changing impact we envision will come from business innovation, strong partners, and a focus on platforms and ecosystems rather than just a widget,’ said CEO Bryan Silbermann, CEO.

They have been working on developing a durable, high quality, pay-as-you-go platform that offers bundles of renewable energy and internet systems, and this 3D printing solution (that can reach people through Orange’s global network) might just be the ticket. Omni3D, of course, is a well-known Polish 3D printer manufacturer, who have been quite successful with their Factory 2.0 Production System flagship 3D printer. Their Factory 2.0 was used to develop these wind turbines, which has been specifically designed for industrial applications.

That is quite necessary, as reports reveal that the 3D printed wind turbine features blades half a meter tall, made from ABS with an internal honeycomb structure to save materials. The final blade structures consists of 93% air – much more efficient and affordable than, say, milling, parts. ‘Industrial 3D printing creates an opportunity for milling workshops to fabricate parts cheaper, faster and easier. Fabricating large ABS parts is a task that can be accomplished by only few printers in the world and we're happy to be a part of this project,’ explained Omni3D’s Konrad Sierzputowski.

While we don’t yet know how this ingenious solution will impact the minds and policies of the world’s leaders, 3D printing is thus definitely shown to improve the efficiency of one of the most sensible sustainable energy solutions, while simultaneously being able to connect a fifth of the world’s population to the global network. It’s therefore unsurprising that the team behind these turbines are so optimistic, who are expecting a ‘significant impact’, as they say.